What is a family?

A family is a group of people living together, who are married, or live together (co-habit), or who are related by blood or adoption.

A family provides...

-secure & stable environment, food & clothing

-encouragement and praise from good role models

-love, affction & comfort

-physical and health care

-communication and socialisation skills- primary- parents influencing

secondary- society influencing

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What is a family?

Types of family

Nuclear Extended Step Single-parent Shared care Adoptive

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Foster and residential care

Looked-after children

Looked after children are in the care of the local authority through social services. Reasons for why these children arent able to live with their birth families include, death or illness of parents, sexual or physical abuse, neglect, disabled child, if parents need respite care.

Foster families

Provide long or short term care. Paid to look after children. Children are encouraged to stay in touch with birth family.

Residential care homes

Provide short term care. Looked after by carers in a family like structure.

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What is a family?

Why are family structures changing?

unmarried mothers are socially acceptable

co-habitation is socially acceptable

divorce laws are simpler

benefits

contraception

Culture

Culture has an effect on roles in the family.

Religion can determine rules of behaviour, provides for worship and celebrations, and can influence your style of dress and diet.